Frame for bicycles or like vehicles.



NIL 629,401. Patented July 25, 1899.

L. B. SMYSER. FRAME FOR BiCYCLES 0B LIKE VEHICLES.

(Application filed May 22, $896.)

(-No Modem naw/Moz- UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' LOUIS B. SMYSER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR or one .HALFTO WILLIAM MCFADDEN, or SAME PLACE.

FR-AME FOR B-lCYGLES OR LlKE VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part or Letters Patent No. 629,401, dated July 25,1899.

Application filed May 22, 1896; Serial No. 592,629. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, LOUIS B. SMYSER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFrames for Bi cycles or Like Vehicles; and I do hereby d'eclare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and ex-.

act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in consists, essentially, of theconstruction, com- 2o bination, and arrangements of parts,substantiallyas hereinafter more fully described in' the following specification andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a sideelevation of a bicycle constructed according to my invention, and Fig.

2 is a longitudinal section on line a: y of Fig. 1 of the frame.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutboth views. Referring to the drawings, the referenceletters I) I)represent vulcanized sheets or plates of fiber, papier-mach, or similarmaterial, but preferably of the material first named, and these sheetsor plates b b may be formed of one continuous piece or portion ofmaterial, or there may be separate sheets or plates, as desired, andwhen formed of one continuous piece or portionof material the same isbent upon itself intermediate of the 0 length thereof, and the bentportion is suitably constructed to form a journal or bearing for thesteering-head, and adjacent to said bearing the plates or sheets I) bare secured together by means of rivets or bolts (1 d. 5 The free endsor rear portions of said sheets are preferably separated to forms.forked or bifurcated portion to receive the drive-wheel, and adjacent,to the forked or bifurcated extremities or ends of said sheets orplates the same are secured together with bolts or rivets d d, asclearly shown in the drawings. Similar bolts or rivets are secured insaid plates or sheets 17' 72 adjacent to the outeredges thereof. 1 Theouter edges or rims of said plates 6 b are bent upon themselves to forma strengthening rim or head 71., adapted to reinforce and strengthen theplates 22 6 without increasing the weight thereof and at a very slightincrease in the labor and expense required to construct the frame, and Ialso construct reinforcing or strengthening beads around the journals ofthe crank-shaft and axle of the drive-wheel for the purpose of givingadditional strength and rigidity to these parts without increasing theweight of the frame.

The drive-Wheel is suitably mounted in reinforced journals or bearingsin the free extrcmities of the forked or bifurcated portionsof saidframe, as shown, and the crank-shaft is similarly mounted in the lowerpart of said bifurcated or forked portion of the frame, and the drive orsprocket chain m, passing over the sprocket-wheel on the crank-shaft andthe sprocket-wheel of the drive-shaft, is 7 5 also journaled in saidbifurcated or forked portion of the frame.

I preferably cutaway the central forward portion of the frame, as shownin Fig. 1, and bend the edges of the cut-away portion upon themselves toform a reinforcing or strengthening rim or head It for the purposesspecified, and this construction tends to lighten the frame withoutmaterially detracting from the strength and durability of the same.

The upper and lower orifices of the journal or hearing of thesteering-head are also provided with a reinforcing or strengthening beador rim h, the same being preferably a continuation of the reinforcing orstrengtheno ing bead or rim it, formed upon the edges or rim of saidframe. Within said journal or bearing of the steering-head a steelbushing g is preferably inclosed, provided with antifrictionball-bearings on which the steering- 5 head is mounted.

The saddle-post may be secured in the socket or recess formed in theupper edge of the frame, as shown, or in any other suitable manner. 10o

I may, if preferred, construct my improved bicycle-frame of veneers,papier-mach, or other similar material; but I prefer to use vulcanizedfiber for the manufacture of my improved bicycle-frame.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A frame for abicycle or other vehicle,consisting of one or moresheets or plates of vulcanized fiber or similar material,provided with areinforcing or strengthening rim or bead upon the outer edges or rimthereof and being cut away upon the forward central portion thereof, andhaving the edges of the cut-away portion bent upon themselves to form acon-- tinuous reinforcing or strengthening bead or rim, said frame beingbent upon itself to form a journal or hearing for the steering-headprovided at the top and bottom thereof with said reinforcing orstrengthening rim or bead, the free or rear ends of said frame beingbifurcated or forked to accommodate the driving mechanism and havingjournals or bearings for the axle of the drive-wheel, and the crankshaftprovided With reinforcing or strengthening rims or beads, said framebeing secured together by rivets inside of said reinforcing orstrengthening rim or bead, and said bifurcated portion, substantially asdescribed.

2. The combination with a guide and drive wheel of a bicycleand thesteering-head and driving mechanism of a frame formed of one continuousportion of vulcanized fiber, having the outer edges or rim thereof bentupon itself to form a reinforcing or strengthening head or rim andhaving the central forward portion thereof cutaway and the edges of thecut-away portion provided with a similar reinforcing or strengtheningbead or rim, said frame being bent upon itself intermediate of thelength thereof to form a bearing or journal for said steering-head andthe free or In testimony whereof I afiix my signature 55 in presence oftwo witnesses. V

LOUIS B. SMYSER.

\Vitnesses:

WM. J. FERDINAND, WM. H. HEULING, Jr.

